BRADENTON – The Manatee County Legislative Delegation did not address their plans for a consolidation study of Anna Maria Island cities as expected at an Oct. 5 meeting, the deadline they set for the three Island mayors to respond to their September request for information on the issue.
All three mayors sent their responses prior to Oct. 5 and the study was expected to be a topic of conversation at the meeting, held at Bradenton City Hall.
However, participants made no mention of the proposed state study on the consolidation of the three Island cities into a single municipal government. A September letter from Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Rep. Will Robinson (R-Bradenton) to the mayors said that the state lawmakers expected a response before the Oct. 5 meeting from each of them on how they were working together to consolidate services, or they would go forward with demanding a consolidation study.
Each mayor responded that while they are in favor of the proposed study if its results would help reduce the burden on taxpayers, they were not in favor of consolidation.
The city of Holmes Beach was the only Island city with representation at the meeting. Attending were Mayor Judy Titsworth, Commissioner Terry Schaefer and City Attorney Erica Augello. When it was time to speak, Schaefer took to the podium to discuss the importance of home rule.
“Over the past three years alone, 81 bills have been passed by the Legislature that have critically diluted home rule,” Schaefer said. “We have had our differences with you over two home rule issues recently, however, we are encouraged by the process and sincere discussions occurring with your leadership and the Island’s three mayors. We all hope to produce the best outcome for Island residents, visitors and stakeholders and appreciate the opportunity to work with you in earnest.”
The only member of the delegation to speak to Schaefer’s comments was Boyd. He said that while he agrees with Schaefer’s statements on home rule, the place where the two differ is on the governance of land use.
During a meeting held in January, the delegation brought up the consolidation study and voted in favor of it.
They also presented a local bill to allow Manatee County to build a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach against the city’s land development code and local ordinances. That bill passed at the state level during the 2023 legislative session and gained Gov. Ron DeSantis’s signature despite local opposition.
